The Sex Ring
By A.J. Llewellyn
Once in a while an author has an experience so serendipitous he has to shout about it from the nearest rooftop.
Recently, Rejean, one of my dear friends and a staunch supporter of mine since Phantom Lover was first published three years ago, sent me an email. He said he had modeled some leather ensembles at an AIDS benefit auction and loved the clothing so much, he bought a couple of the pieces for himself. One of them was a leather jacket that had a cock ring dangling from the epaulette. The clothes had belonged to an artist who died 20 years ago.
“Wouldn’t it be a great story,” he wrote, “if the guy who buys the jacket, uses the cock ring and becomes possessed by the dead artist?”
Hell, yeah it would be a great story. I couldn’t sleep. Once I got his permission to write it, I took off with the idea, belting out 10,000 words that same night. I couldn’t sleep. Like my book character, Kristofer Edan, I became obsessed with the dead artist – whom I named Rafael Ortiz. I awoke at the crack of dawn to call my long term eXtasy Books publisher, Tina Haveman, the only other person in the world I know who is awake at five a.m.
She was on her computer.
I quickly told her the story and she loved it. “You know I love paranormals,” she said.
I told her exactly what I wanted on the cover. A hot guy in a leather jacket and a cock ring dangling from the epaulette.
“You’re not going to believe it,” she said, “but I just bought a photo of a very hot guy in a leather jacket. I think it’s going to be perfect. I can put the ghostly image of another man behind him. Just one question. What’s a cock ring?”
After I fell off my chair laughing, I explained what it is…which led to our biggest concern. The title. You can’t have the word cock in an ebook title because Paypal will shut you down for obscenity. We ran around some ideas and decided together on The Sex Ring. I use this in the blurb as well – but in the book, all bets are off. It’s a cock ring.
This led to the final piece in the puzzle. I needed a major gay porn star for a prominent role in the story and preferably somebody with a taste for kink. I won’t say why because I don’t want to spoil the story. In my mind there was only one man for the job, Tony Buff. I wrote the story using his name and certain er…parts and pieces belonging to him. Then I began wondering, is this okay? I mean, he’s a public figure, but still...
So I sent him a note, explained things to him and offered him a free copy of the book when it is published. And waited. I began to fret. I really felt I needed Buff for the book and was overjoyed when he wrote back, sounding genuinely excited about the idea. He said, “I look forward to reading it and getting to know the character I have apparently inspired.”
I felt like Dorothy who clicked her shoes (in my case, scuffed Nikes) and got a miracle. Tony Buff will be getting his copy as soon as the book comes out tonight at midnight EDT and 9pm PDT.
The Sex Ring was the most fun I’ve had writing a book in a very long time. I combined it with my usual dredged-from-mysorry-ass-life stories, this time, a plotline concerning my day job as a copywriter and beach rats. Yes. Rats.
I hope wherever he is in heaven, the artist whose original jacket and naughty cock ring inspired all of this, is smiling. I wish I could have met him…but I guess on some level, maybe I have.
For more information and for purchasing The Sex Ring, please click this link:
http://tinyurl.com/2bp4lah
Aloha oe,
A.J.
LOL, AJ, reading this background story is almost as much fun as I’m sure the book will be. You should have this text included as a “foreword”! Can’t wait to go and buy the Cock Ring – uhm, sorry, I mean, of course – the Sex Ring…
Hugs,
Posted by Serena Yates on August 14th, 2010 at 10:17 amSerena
Thank you so much Serena! I really appreciate your comment on The Cock Ring er…you know what I mean 🙂
Posted by AJ on August 14th, 2010 at 10:20 amAs a fan of Tony and of erotic literature, I look forward to reading this composition about the Sex Cock Ring. What a great story about the birth of another story. Thank you
Posted by John on August 14th, 2010 at 11:14 amI’m really looking forward to reading the story! Like your publisher I’m a fan of the paranormal. I can’t wait to see what you’ve done with Tony’s inspiration. I wouldn’t have known to check your blog out except that he retweeted your comment with the link.
Any chance of editing the photo to include epaulets and a *whisper* cock ring *unwhisper*.?
When I first saw the title my thoughts went towards a guy who picks up a another from either a bar or the ‘net, the second guy picks up a third and maybe the fourth guy picks up the first. *laugh*.
Best wishes for your new baby’s success!
Tia
Posted by Tia on August 14th, 2010 at 11:15 amAJ your books sounds truly inspired and i can’t wait to read it… You are truly one of the best writers i have the pleasure of calling a friend.. Best of luck with your new books darling
oxoxoxox
Posted by Silver on August 14th, 2010 at 11:16 amsilver
AJ darlin, it never ceases to amaze me where you get your inspiration from,but since I happen to be extremely fond of the little ghosties and know they watch us and what happens around us, I’m certain the artist is havin a great laugh at what he has inspired with his naughty jacket…. I wouldn’t be surprised if he hadn’t been givin you a nudge here and there on just what he wanted written….. I’m sure it will be spectacular,hon as most of your books always are. May you have phenomenal sales and the artist be happy as well as you. Big Hugs
Posted by Ruth on August 14th, 2010 at 11:16 amAJ, this sounds fabulous! Loved the background on the story.
P.S. loved the Wine-Dark Sea
KyAnn
Posted by KyAnn Waters on August 14th, 2010 at 12:43 pmTony Buff! Tony Buff! The man is becoming a living legend. He and his boys are known as the First Family of Kink. Any story that has him as a character has got to be hot.
Tony brought down the house at this year’s Grabby Awards with this outfit:
http://tonybuff.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/tonyBuff_20100529_6.jpg
where he shared the award for Performer of the Year with AJ’s cover model Adam Killian.
He was also awarded the Grabby for Hottest Cock (Cut) of the year and with his customary dignity and humor, he accepted the award with this statement:
“Wow, I had forgotten I had been nominated in this category. My member is honored, although the rest of me, hopes I will be remembered for the other contributions I’ve made to the industry.”
Posted by Chara on August 14th, 2010 at 1:21 pmGotta love The “Cock” Ring – oops it has a new name now.
Patiently waiting here.
Wait till I tell Sweetie…he will love the new name.
Posted by Patricia on August 14th, 2010 at 2:34 pmHey AJ, That’s a dandy story. Is your friend in for a cut for the idea? I’ll bet you had fun writing it. Good Luck come midnight.
Ciao, Dee
Posted by Dee Dawning on August 14th, 2010 at 3:40 pmThanks so much, Kyann!!
Posted by AJ on August 14th, 2010 at 4:10 pmWhat an awesome back story! Serena is right, the back stories are just as good as the books.
Congrats on this release as well AJ. You are truly talented!
Gros Bisou,
Posted by Cyn on August 14th, 2010 at 6:34 pmCyn
AJ!! I totally agree wit Serena. I love reading the background to your stories as much as I love reading your books. And I have to say that your life is anything but sorry-assed. You are a brilliant author as well as a wonderful person. You will always be at the top of my list as favorite author. And Tony Buff….what can I say? ;D Can’y wait to read it. GREAT cover!!
Aloha oe~
Posted by Dani on August 14th, 2010 at 6:45 pmDani
xoxo
Great post. I had a similar reaction to the editor’s first time I read about a ball gag – let’s just say I thought it was something entirely different than what it was. (yep, just turned beet red)
Inspiration can work like that – my family and I had, one day, gone to an event. One of those days I hadn’t really planned on going online. Same evening, had something goading me on, wouldn’t leave me alone, so, got online, and the words started flowing – hour later (a very short) story had written itself, one draft. Have had some nice reactions to it too.
Posted by Yvonne B. on August 14th, 2010 at 9:24 pm